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Tuesday, December 24, 2013
RMIEW’s Daily Newsletter 
“The Encourager"




Snuggle in with the Lord

and focus on Him.

Hear Him speaking to you!

Taken from Erin’s Daily Devotional

My Beloved

December 24

 

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears” (Ps. 18:6).

 

Beloved, the Lord’s ear is not dull that He cannot hear; cry to Him in your distress—call upon Him. Then wait. Oh, the wait. This is often the refining. It will either build our anxiousness, or build our trust and faith. The determining factor is what you do during your wait.

 

Beloved, spend your time in His presence and the time will fly by. But spend your time looking at your circumstances, talking about your circumstances, and you will soon stop waiting and take matters into your own hands.

 

Beloved, rest in the Lord and in His presence; enter into the presence in the Lord by opening the gates of righteousness. They are opened when you praise the Lord! Begin to thank Him for everything He has done each and every time you pray. Don’t stand outside the gates calling your requests out to Him. Instead thank Him, then praise Him and enter into His temple. Then abide there and see the salvation of the Lord. Hallelujah!!

 

 

RESTORED Marriage Testimony!

 

Read how this Woman
Applied His Word & Principles
To her life and
Trusted GOD to Restore Her Marriage!!

Submitted by: Sherri in Texas; I’ve Experienced a Restored Marriage, I’m a RMIEW Minister.

 

My initial journey began when I was led to RMI in July 2004. My husband and I had been married for 20 years. I was his third wife. I was separated from my husband with two small kids who cried for him everyday. I was desperate to find a solution to put my marriage back together. I grew up in the church but was given a lot of bad advice; advice that went against God’s Word and what He commands us to do. While at work I typed in the words “marriage restoration” and was led to Restore Ministries International. I read Erin's testimony and thought it was the most incredible thing I'd ever heard. No one, not in my church, my family or any friend had ever given me the hope I received from RMI. I knew then that God would restore my marriage and He was the answer I had been looking for.

 

My husband and I were separated for two and a half years. During that time, I devoured the How God Can and Will Restore Your Marriage (often known as RYM), A Wise Woman, and the Workers at Home books. I couldn't get enough of God’s truths that were contained within their pages. The more I read, the more broken I felt and the more I knew that unless I submitted my life to the Lord, things in my marriage and my life would never change. I was in so much emotional pain that I knew God would have to completely heal me. Although God did heal me of my pain, I was only willing to let Him heal me partially. I only did what I needed to do to bring my husband home. The Lord was not my primary focus, and I didn’t consider Him as my Husband. I fooled myself into believing that God had changed me completely but He wasn’t through with me yet.

 

After God restored my marriage to my husband, I was ecstatic and once again the Lord was not first in my life. I put off helping others, as God wanted me to do, and once again fell into that ditch of contention. The old destructive anger and spiritual arrogance resurfaced. I wasn't walking in God's forgiveness or His amazing love and I found it almost impossible to forgive. This went on for years. However, God in His love and grace for me showed me mercy and blessed me (and my husband) with two restoration babies, which I prayed for during our separation. My husband said that he felt unloved, and I didn’t trust him with my feelings or to make any of the financial or other decisions for our family. Eventually the inevitable happened. I tore down my house and once again God removed my husband from me.

 

This time, I just knew that God would not restore my marriage. I was so angry and "fed up" that I didn't want Him to restore it. We were separated numerous times prior to this one and both had committed adultery during our marriage. I even stopped wearing my wedding ring when I found out about the OW. I felt extremely hurt, angry, discouraged, humiliated, and rejected all over again. I didn't want the constant reminder, through my wedding band, of my pains and failures, nor did I want to be physically attached to my husband. I began to believe what others were telling me about my marriage -- there was no hope, my earthly husband would never change, and I should just divorce him, move on and find someone else. I was completely double-minded. I would have days when I wanted my marriage restored and days when I didn't. Whenever I considered divorce, God would bring me back to His Word and confirm to me that He hates divorce and doesn’t want this for me. I wasn’t sure what I wanted, but I did remember the peace and love I felt when I'd gotten closer to the Lord the first time on my journey. I wanted that feeling back. My two older children were full of anger over the separation and the two younger ones were confused. Neither my family nor my in-laws wanted us to remain married. In fact, my in-laws remained friends with my husband’s second wife. However, I wanted God's best for our family and victory over everything the enemy was trying to do to destroy us. I lost hope that my marriage would be restored again especially since I received the truth twice and still messed up. Through the teeter tottering of my emotions, God kept bringing the RYM book and Wise Woman books, and it’s principles to the surface of my mind. I knew I wasn’t the wife God called me to be. I learned the principles detailed in these books but stopped applying them. He kept pursuing me about them and I gave in, thinking that perhaps I should re-read them and re-join RMI. I obeyed God and rejoined RMI. It was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I learned what my role as a wife and mother was, and that God was to be first in my life in everything I do. I felt such conviction when the truth was revealed to me. It started such a desire to live a life pleasing to God. I finally found the truth that I'd been looking for but couldn't find, not even in my own home church.

 

I enrolled in the courses offered through RMI and began studying God's Word regularly and read the Encouragers and Praise Reports daily. This helped to re-establish hope in my heart. I promised the Lord that I would let Him restore, rebuild, and renew my life. Unlike the first time, this time around I found my First Love, surrendered my all to Him, and discovered that narrow path that leads to the abundant life God has for me! He taught me that no one is ever going to love me more than He does, and that He does not like when I place other people or things first in my heart where only He belongs. He reminded me the importance of forgiveness and how to watch what I say to those who have authority in my life, especially my earthly husband. God showed me how to be His bride and have a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious to Him. He taught me how to love those who are unlovable and unforgivable. He led me to be nonjudgmental and understanding of others so I may have healthy relationships and not put myself in a position to be abandoned or abused. God taught me how to be an encouraging woman; a minister of reconciliation to other hurting ladies and the Titus woman that Erin and so many others who send in encouragement have been to me. The Lord showed me how to be obedient through my sufferings. He taught me how to take every concern and every aspect of my life to Him and to trust only Him with my life - both on earth and in eternity. Through my tough times, God prodded me to submit blindly by getting out of the boat like Peter and keeping my eyes centered on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith. The Lord taught me how to enjoy every day of my journey with Him. He showed me that He is never going to leave me or forsake me. God taught me so many wonderful things that I did not know.

 

Those wonderful things the Lord showed me were not easy to learn. I had to constantly die to self and press into the Lord closer so He could increase His presence in my life. There were times where I had to show love and respect to those people who were out to emotionally and spiritually harm me. The Lord showed me how to turn the other cheek. "But I [Jesus] say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To anyone who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek as well; to anyone who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from someone who takes it. “Treat others as you would like people to treat you...” You will have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High for He Himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked." (Luke 6:27-31,35) For the first time in my life, He became my all and everything and I was no longer concerned with earthly matters, including my marriage. I was content to live a life of “singleness”, as Erin and so many women in this ministry have expressed, with my Wonderful Husband.

 

I did not give my marriage or the affairs of my husband any thought. I kept my focus on the Lord and His promises to me. My earthly husband would tell me (or our children) that he was coming home but it no longer mattered. I continued to encourage others. I had, and still do, such a deep desire to live a life that not only pleases the Lord but also a desire to help other hurting women to put their faith and trust in The Lord. I wanted, for a few years now, to be more fruitful in my life. I was genuinely delighted hearing or reading restoration testimonies for other women. When my focus was completely off of my marriage and I was content in my circumstances, the Lord blessed me with a restored marriage.

 

My encouragement to you is to really seek the Lord. Give Him your whole heart in every area of your life. Don't hold anything back. It may be painful but only for a season. On the other side of pain is healing and restoration. I highly recommend ALL the resources that this ministry offers -- the books, videos, daily Encouragers, the courses -- everything! Each resource helped me to renew my mind, restore me back to my First Love, and to rebuild my life on the solid foundation of God’s Word. I am eternally grateful for this ministry, Erin, all the Ministers and Ministers in Training who opened up their lives and encouraged me to keep pressing into the Lord and to not give up. It amazes me when I think of it or talk about it but I wouldn't change one thing that has happened on my Restoration Journey!

 

It is my heart’s desire for God to use me to help other hurting women, including my daughters, building their lives on the sinking sand of the world’s lies about their roles of being a wife, mother and child of the King. I don't want to just go to "church" and not have a more intimate relationship with God. I want to be able to lead my daughters and other women by word and deed, to desire to be all that God created us to be. God placed a desire in my heart to be a Godly wife and to honor my husband and be the helper suitable that He intended for me to be. I won’t let Satan win. Don’t let the enemy destroy you or your family thus leaving a life legacy riddled with sin to your children and future generations. God has an incredible love for you that you can't even fathom. He is such an awesome God and has such wonderful plans for us. He wants and deserves to be First in our hearts and in our lives. We've given that position to our spouses, or children or jobs, and none of them has satisfied us. I encourage you to give the Lord your heart and hold nothing back. The life He has for you will blow your mind!

 

 

Sherri in TexasSowing Hope Team & Home Fellowship

Just a reminder that our offices will be closed today for the U.S. Christmas holiday and will reopen on Thursday December, 26th


All of our LESSONS, the Encourager, and orders will continue to be sent, but no responses will be emailed so that our ministers can spend time with the Lord and their families. So please continue reading and filling out your lesson forms as usual—and most importantly, spend time getting to know you're heavenly Husband
 

Thank you for your love and understanding!!

become a partnerIf you’re interested in joining an Encouraging Women Fellowship in your area, be sure you have signed up to be one of our RMI partners.

Do you have a similar Praise Report that you'd like to share? Be sure to STOP right now and Encourage our E Readers just as this Encouraging Woman has encouraged you—and become a true Encouraging Woman too!

SUBMIT A PRAISE REPORT CLICK HERE.

And if you or someone you know has experienced a Restored MarriageCLICK HERE to become an Encouraging Woman!

Take a moment to read these verses in different versions by going to Biblegateway.com

Or download a Free Biblegateway AP

Become an Encouraging Woman
FREE Online Bible Studies

Likewise, tell the older women
to be reverent in their behavior,
teaching what is good...
That way they can mentor young women
to love their husbands and children,
and to be sensible, morally pure, working at home,
kind and submissive to their own husbands,
so that God’s word won’t be ridiculed"—
Titus 2:3-5 CEB

INSTRUCTIONS: Please choose the Course from the Table below—simply CLICK on the Lesson link that will take you to the next lesson to choose from.

 
 

Course 1: RYM

"At Last There's Hope” Lesson List

 

 

Course 2: RRR

"Renewing Your Mind" Lesson List

 

Course 3: Rebuilding Part 1

"Rebuilding by Wisdom" Lesson List

 

Course 3: Rebuilding Part 2

"Rebuilding by Understanding" Lesson List

 

Course 3: Rebuilding Part 3

"Rebuilding by Knowledge" Lesson List

 

Course 3: Rebuilding Part 4

"Filled with Precious & Pleasant Riches" Lesson List

 

Please NOTE: Please do only ONE lesson per day, and if there are a lot of new principles to absorb, do the lesson a second time. This allows His Word and His principles to SINK into your heart, not merely remain as head knowledge—thus giving you an inside out—Spiritual Makeover.


Would you or would your friend like to add your name to our DAILY "Encourager" emailed to you each morning—starting the day right? If so, CLICK HERE

The Praise Report
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name"
— Psalm 100:4


Do you LOVE reading the Praise Reports?

Want to read MORE???

 

CLICK HERE to SIGN UP for The Praise Report—which will arrive each Sunday after the Encourager and the Course you've signed up for.

“Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost.” John 6:12

 

* PLEASE CLICK HERE for our ENCOURAGER Archives.
 
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RMI and EW Statement: This message is from a Volunteer of RMI and Encouraging Women. It is intended to give support, encouragement, guidance and accountability to its members or prospective members and partners; therefore the contents do not necessarily reflect the principles or opinions of RMI or Encouraging Women.

Copyright © 2013 Restore Ministries International, All rights reserved.


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